The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-08-18
TIL E ERS' ALLIANCE.
ID. 4. II. Returns to the Charge and Dis
cHSSes the Order.

Especial Cor STATE CHRoNICLEl
| La; i;INBURG, n. g., Aug. II, lSS1.-In
the {" umns of your valuable journal lately
! appea ed two communications. one of
which was signed D. P Meacham. who is
Of such an imaginary character that he
can, as his writing shows, be near Raleigh
| n. g., aud at the same time on Mountain
Greek, III Richmond county, and his whole
epistle is of that same rowing character.
He puts me in mind of certain preacher
within my knowledge, who always took a
text, left his subject in the outset and
never returned to it. He seemed to think
that | was the subject to be discussed in
stead of the relative merits Of agricultural
associations and secret alliances The other
epstle seemed to be Of ilIegitimate birth
as no one claimed paternity, but the found
ling seems to have been legitimiZed by the
"Allance,' whose worthy secretary is ID.
-. Mclntyre,a very genteei, worthy gentle
man. These communications both con
tanned vltuperatlous threats at me person
ally, which threats demand little atten-
ton at my hands; not that l propose to
thrust back, for I have no personal feel
ing III this matter other than personal
duty in behalf Of the best interest of North
Carolina as understand it. | only refer
to them to ask q generous public to give
both sides a patient hearing and thus pass
judgment upon the merits Of the question
at issue and remember that D. I. H. is not
the subject being discussed. | don't aim
to initiate their swashbuckler style Of re-
fined rutfianism but will contine myself to
the subject.
The success Of any moral system depends
entirely upon the applicability OF its prin-
ciples to the common interests OF those
concerned. When q man or an organized
body of men comes before the public with
an idea or an object and asks for public
favor, the first thing in order is TO exam
Inc into the merits of the thing and dis
cuss its utility. When asked to Join this
new alliance and give it my influence |
took the liberty to examine its objects and
the mode of carrying out those objects,
and could see no hope OF its final success.
for it seemed to me impossible for an or
ganization composed chiefly of farmers TO
succeed when under the control Of the
most selfish men in my knowledge, and
when some of our largest and most sue
cessful farmers and most intelligent citi
zens, Of a high order of BRAN and heart
merit, were excluded simply because they
are merchants as we'll as farmers.
The true citizens of any country will
study the interests of all Glasses concerned
and not secretly lay schemes IN favor OF
one class and against another. We quote
from the Statesyille Landmark; Secret
class combinations are sources of strife.
They breed discomfort among those who
belong to them and ill-feeiLg against other
classes. They are contrary to the spirit
of American institutions, dangerous to
liberty and harmful every way. Il is hoped
that the farmers will never go into secrecy"
When the above lines We're penned by the
editor of this time -honored journal he
must have been under some holy lnspira-
ton for these truths are worthy Of all
| honor. When secret organization ar
rogates to itself the right to frame private
rules in favor of a select few and against
the majority, and assume to enforce these
/ rules, they show spirit OF arrogant as
sumption unjust and unworthy Of respect,
spirit contrary to the principles of pOlit-
cal economy, and contrary to reason; and
then if a gentleman chooses to discuss the
prOprlety of such Il course they raise their
hands in unholy horror and try to hide
their lack o. merit Leh,.iI an effort to dis
credit plain truths. because open handed
fair play is not among their plans.
The object of any organization, intend
ed for the public good, to be successful,
must harmonic all other interests and not
antagonize any, ID. P. Meacham to the
contrary Notwithstanding, with his con
tending forces. Lawyers and merchants
/
chanics as doctors and teachers are. 1t is
the mission of agricultural and mechanical
associations to correct and reform errone-
Gus opinions by discussing them IN un-
selfish open way, and he who would shut
the doors and shut out public discussion
would at the same time shut out reason
and shut in vicious tendencies. We be
lieve the intelligent North Carolinians are
| competent to manage successfully the
! agricultural and mechanical interests of
| the State in an Opcn-handed way. In
every township Ill the State may be found
men competent to speak and write Tor and
| properly represent the Interests Of their
| calling in township, county or State CON
ventlons or associations, where all may
| hear and see and learn and improve, and
| where none may be shut out. The grow
| ing interest of this country needs l1Struc-
| ton and training. Providence has made
| social intercourse one of the necessities
of public instruction. 1t is the recrea-
| ton of the intellect and social harmony is
| its soothing balm. SO it is III all the rela-
| tons of enterprise when instruction and
Improvement are desired. What this cOun
| try needs is more cash and more confidence
in business circles. The former will bring
| the latter, but secret alliances will bring
neither. The only hope of prosperity must
come from diversified industries. The
| one crop man must fail unless he has first
class land and plenty of cash to purchase
| his supplies in advance. Diversified farm
| ing brings something to sell for money at
any time and does away with the necessity
| for credit. 1t seems useless to attack a
| queen in fortified castle but truth com
| pells me to say that the great curse OF this
age is blind enslavement to the goddess
! of fashion. She is the most tyrannical, ar
bitrary. useless, injurious and dangerous
power in our land. Her Unsuitable de
mands are impovershing parents, mort
gaging property and rendering the young
| of both sexes totally unfit for the trials
| and business of life. The time has come
| for every farmer and mechanic to connect
himself with an association which has for
its object the uplifting of the general
| welfare of North Carolina and not the ele-
| vation of few selfish and unworthy
| bosses. ID. L. ii.
The Ways OF GOthamiteS.
| From Arkansaw Traveller
''The people of New York are not very
sociable, are they?' said a Western man
addressing an acquaintance who lived in
the East. ''Well, don't know but they
III %hovy I,o Ia =